Lake Michigan College, Napier Ave

What Lake Michigan College, Napier Ave does

Lake Michigan College is a public, non-profit community college established in 1946 and headquartered at 2755 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It serves Berrien County and surrounding areas in Southwest Michigan through four campuses — Benton Harbor (main), the Bertrand Innovation Center in Niles, South Haven, and the Allegan Tech Center — and employs 251–500 staff. The institution offers associate degrees (AA, AS, AAS), certificates of achievement, and advanced certificates across more than 40 majors spanning Arts & Humanities, Business, IT, Manufacturing & Industrial Technology, Culinary & Wine/Viticulture, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and STEM, alongside specialized programs including Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Sonography, Welding, Mechatronics, and apprenticeships.

Distinctive program offerings include the Midwest's only commercial teaching winery at the Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology (with the 'Lake Michigan Vintners' tasting-room brand), a Culinary Management associate degree, and a Chocolate & Confections certificate — niche credentials not replicated by neighboring community colleges. The college also operates the Mendel Center performing arts venue, the Fab Lab makerspace, the Red Hawk Refuel Pantry food-security program (powered by PantrySoft online ordering), and the Red Hawks intercollegiate athletics program competing in NJCAA Division 2.

Revenue derives from four disclosed streams: tuition and fees (including Flex Pay installment plans), federal and state financial aid/grants (Pell, Michigan Reconnect, GI Bill), foundation and corporate donations via the LMC Foundation, and community-education/non-credit programming. The institution runs on a standard educational technology stack — Canvas LMS, Microsoft 365/Outlook, Civitas Learning, WaveLink, DegreeWorks, TargetX (Salesforce), Handshake, Parchment, Papercut, and TimelyCare for 24/7 virtual mental health — with no proprietary AI or platform technology disclosed. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the college website, six-channel social media presence, campus tours, high-school dual-enrollment partnerships, and employer-facing events such as wine-industry hiring fairs and a regional sustainable-agriculture roundtable.

Name

Lake Michigan College, Napier Ave

Legal name

Lake Michigan College

Website

https://lakemichigancollege.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lake Michigan College is a public community college in Benton Harbor, Michigan operating four campuses (Benton Harbor, Niles, South Haven, Allegan) and serving Berrien County and Southwest Michigan with 40+ associate degree and certificate programs, including the Midwest's only commercial teaching winery, culinary arts, health sciences, and skilled trades.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training programs
• Health sciences education
• Transfer pathway programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Benton Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from student tuition and fees for credit-bearing courses and programs. The college offers various payment plans including Flex Pay for installment payments.
2. Financial Aid and Grants: Federal and state financial aid including grants (Pell, Michigan Reconnect), loans, and work-study programs. Michigan Reconnect provides free tuition for eligible Michigan residents.
3. Foundation and Donations: The LMC Foundation accepts donations to support student scholarships and programs. Also receives corporate sponsorships for events and programs.
4. Community Education: Revenue from non-credit community education classes, summer camps, and extended education programs open to the public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lake Michigan College is a public community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, and specialized vocational training across 40+ academic programs. Core offerings include transfer pathways to four-year universities, workforce development in health sciences and skilled trades, and distinctive programs such as Wine and Viticulture Technology at the Midwest's only commercial teaching winery, Culinary Management, and Chocolate and Confections.

Product overview

Lake Michigan College is a community college offering associate degrees, advanced certificates, and certificates of achievement across 40+ academic programs. The institution operates a distinctive portfolio including specialized vocational programs (Wine and Viticulture Technology at the Midwest's only commercial teaching winery, Culinary Management, Chocolate & Confections), traditional academic transfer pathways, and health sciences career programs. Student support services include mental health counseling via TimelyCare, the Red Hawk Refuel Pantry food security program, disability accommodations, and campus facilities like the Fab Lab makerspace and Mendel Center performing arts venue. The college serves students at multiple campuses in Benton Harbor, Niles, South Haven, and Allegan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Hawks: The athletic teams mascot and brand name for Lake Michigan College's intercollegiate athletics program
• Mendel Center
• Red Hawk Refuel Pantry
• Lake Michigan Vintners

Products and services

• Associate Degrees and Certificates Academic credentials including Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), and various certificate programs across 40+ majors, designed for transfer to four-year universities and career preparation.
• Wine and Viticulture Technology Associate degree program at the Midwest's only commercial teaching winery, covering enology, viticulture, and wine business operations for careers in the wine industry.
• Culinary Management Associate degree program providing hands-on culinary arts training covering food preparation, kitchen management, and business operations for restaurant and food service careers.
• Chocolate and Confections Certificate program for designing artisanal chocolates and desserts, preparing students for careers in the chocolate and confectionery industry.
• Health Sciences Programs Healthcare career programs including Nursing (RN), Radiologic Technology, Sonography, Cardiac Sonography, Physical Therapist Assistant, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, and Pharmacy Technician.
• TimelyCare Virtual Mental Health 24/7 virtual mental health platform providing crisis support, scheduled counseling, on-demand Talk Now sessions, self-care content, and peer community for all enrolled students through HIPAA-compliant video technology.
• Red Hawk Refuel Pantry Food security program providing free food and toiletries to enrolled students, offering online ordering with pickup at Benton Harbor and South Haven campuses.
• Student Well-Being & Accessibility Services Integrated support services including mental health counseling, disability accommodations, basic needs assistance, crisis support, and TimelyCare virtual mental health services.
• LMC Athletics (Red Hawks) Intercollegiate athletics program competing in NJCAA Division 2 with teams including softball, basketball, and other sports, offering athletic scholarships and campus engagement opportunities.
• Mendel Center Performing Arts Performing arts center hosting world-class performances, speakers, and student productions, serving as a community engagement and visibility venue for the college.
• Fab Lab Makerspace Makerspace facility open to students and community members for hands-on creation, prototyping, and digital fabrication projects using equipment like 3D printers and CNC machines.
• Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology State-of-the-art teaching facility housing the commercial teaching winery, tasting room, and Lake Michigan Vintners wine tasting operations in Benton Harbor, hosting wine industry hiring fairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free tuition available through Michigan Reconnect and LMC Guarantee programs for eligible students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stranger Wine CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Local winery participating in Lake Michigan College's sustainable agriculture roundtable discussion titled 'From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County'. Represented local agricultural operations on panel discussing challenges and opportunities facing regional farmers and sustainable farming practices.
• Carriage House CidersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Local cider company participating in Lake Michigan College's sustainable agriculture roundtable discussion titled 'From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County'. Part of panel representing local agricultural operations discussing sustainable farming practices in Southwest Michigan.
• FarmetteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Local farm participating in Lake Michigan College's sustainable agriculture roundtable discussion titled 'From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County'. Panelist representing local agricultural operations discussing challenges and opportunities facing regional farmers.
• Wild Coyote Organic FarmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Organic farm participating in Lake Michigan College's sustainable agriculture roundtable discussion titled 'From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County'. Part of panel of local agricultural operations discussing organic and regenerative farming methods.
• Verdant HollowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Local agricultural operation participating in Lake Michigan College's sustainable agriculture roundtable discussion titled 'From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County'. Represented local farming community on panel discussing sustainable farming practices and challenges.
• Berrien Community Foundation (Help4Berrien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Michigan College has partnered with the Berrien Community Foundation to connect students to Help4Berrien, a trusted resource hub for assistance in Berrien County. This partnership provides students access to emergency housing, food pantries, utility assistance, transportation, childcare, and mental health resources through an easy-to-use online tool.
• TimelyCarecoreTechnology or IntegrationLake Michigan College has partnered with TimelyCare, a virtual mental health provider, to offer free, confidential mental health support and 24/7 crisis support to all enrolled students. TimelyCare provides scheduled virtual counseling, Talk Now on-demand support, self-care content, and peer community through web and mobile app access.
• Local Wineries and Wine-Adjacent BusinessescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproximately 15 local wineries and wine-adjacent businesses participate in Lake Michigan College's wine industry hiring fairs at the Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology. These businesses recruit for roles ranging from tasting room hospitality to vineyard and winery operations, targeting both general job seekers and the college's viticulture students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Andrews University: Nearby four-year university in Berrien County that is a common transfer destination for LMC students and competes for the same regional talent pool.

Broad incumbents

• Lansing Community College: Larger, multi-campus Michigan community college with broader program range, serving as the statewide reference point for community college operations.
• Western Michigan University: Major regional four-year institution that serves as a primary transfer partner while also competing for high school graduates choosing between direct enrollment and the community-college path.

Direct peers

• Glen Oaks Community College: Small Southwest Michigan community college with overlapping service area and similar rural/regional two-year institution profile.
• Muskegon Community College: Michigan community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education with a similar funding and enrollment model.
• Grand Rapids Community College: Larger Michigan community college providing the same associate degree, transfer pathway, and workforce training model in West Michigan.
• Northwestern Michigan College: Regional Michigan community college with similar workforce, healthcare, and university-transfer offerings and comparable reliance on state appropriations and tuition.
• Southwestern Michigan College: Regional community college serving Southwest Michigan with similar associate degree, transfer, and workforce training mission in an overlapping geography.
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College: Another Southwest Michigan community college offering associate degrees, certificates, and workforce programs with culinary and manufacturing tracks; comparable in size, governance, and funding model.
• Kellogg Community College: Battle Creek-area Michigan community college with a closely comparable portfolio of associate degrees, healthcare, and skilled-trades programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LakeMichCollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/LakeMichiganCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/lakemichigancollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-michigan-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakemichigancollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@lakemichigancollege

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Michigan College, Napier Ave